Craig Biesecker
from Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, received a B.S. in Music Education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. While teaching music in Philadelphia, he studied ballet with John White, Margarita de Saa, and Bryan Koulman and worked with choreographers Tim and Lina Early. In New York City he has worked with Pascal Rioult, Carolyn Dorfman, New York Theater Ballet, Mark Dendy, and Gerald Casel. Craig joined the Mark Morris Dance Group in 2003.
Samuel Black
is originally from Berkeley, California, where he began studying tap at the age of 9 with Katie Maltsberger. He received his B.F.A. in Dance from SUNY Purchase, and also studied at the Rotterdamse Dansacademie in Holland. He has performed in New York with David Parker, Takehiro Ueyama, and Nelly van Bommel. Sam first appeared with MMDG in 2005, and became a company member in 2007.
Joe Bowie
was born in Lansing, Michigan, and began dancing while attending Brown University where he graduated with honors in English and American Literature. In New York he has performed in the works of Robert Wilson and Ulysses Dove and also danced with the Paul Taylor Dance Company for two years before going to Belgium to work with Mark Morris in 1989.
Charlton Boyd
was born in New Jersey, where he studied and performed with the Inner City Ensemble Theater and Dance Company. He graduated from The Juilliard School. He went on to dance with the Limon Dance Company and appears in Jose Limon Technique Video, Volume 1, among other music videos. He first appeared with the Mark Morris Dance Group in 1989 and became a company member in 1994.
Elisa Clark
received received her early training from the Maryland Youth Ballet, and her B.F.A. from The Juilliard School, under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy. She danced with the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, the Nederlands Dans Theater, and Battleworks Dance Company, before joining MMDG in 2006. Ms. Clark has also worked with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, as assistant to Robert Battle. She has been on faculty at the American Dance Festival and teaches for MMDG. She is a 2008-2009 Princess Grace Modern Dance Honorarium Award Winner.
Amber Darragh
is originally from Newport, Oregon, where she began her dance training with Nancy Mittleman. She received her B.F.A. from The Juilliard School in 1999 and then danced with the Limon Dance Company for two years. She is a recipient of the 2001 Princess Grace Award and has presented her own choreography both in New York and abroad. Amber joined the Mark Morris Dance Group in 2001.
Rita Donahue
was born and raised in Fairfax, Virginia, and attended George Mason University, where she graduated with honors in Dance and English in 2002. She danced with bopi's black sheep/dances by kraig patterson and joined the Mark Morris Dance Group in 2003.
Domingo Estrada, Jr.
(apprentice) a native of Victoria, TX, recently acquired a B.F.A. in Ballet and Modern Dance at Texas Christian University. Currently, he also works with choreographers Leslie Scott, BODYart Dance, Mary Seidman & Dancers, and Christian von Howard, Von Howard Project. He made his debut with the Mark Morris Dance Group during The Hard Nut at Cal Performances, Berkeley, in 2007 and became an apprentice in 2008. Domingo would like to thank God, his family and all who support his passion!
Lauren Grant
raised in Highland Park, Illinois, has danced with the Mark Morris Dance Group since 1996. Before graduating with a B.F.A from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Lauren studied ballet from the age of 3. She has also trained in character dance, acting, and singing. She teaches master classes in ballet and modern technique at schools and universities around the world, at MMDG’s school in Brooklyn, and for the company as well. She is married to fellow dancer David Leventhal.
John Heginbotham
is from Anchorage, Alaska. He is a graduate of The Juilliard School (BFA ‘93) and has danced in the companies of Susan Marshall, Pilobolus Dance Theater (guest artist), John Jasperse, and Ben Munisteri. His choreography is featured in the work of recording artists Fischerspooner, and in Champ: A Space Opera (New York International Fringe Festival). As a teacher, John works regularly with members of the Brooklyn Parkinson Group. He joined the Mark Morris Dance Group in 1998.
David Leventhal
raised in Newton, Massachusetts, has danced with the Mark Morris Dance Group since 1997. He studied at Boston Ballet School and has danced with Jose Mateo's Ballet Theatre and the companies of Marcus Schulkind, Richard Colton/Amy Spencer, Zvi Gotheiner, Neta Pulvermacher, and Ben Munisteri. He graduated with honors in English Literature from Brown University in 1995. He teaches master classes in technique and repertory at schools and colleges around the country. He gives classes regularly at MMDG's school, including one for people with Parkinson's disease. He is married to fellow dancer Lauren Grant.
Laurel Lynch
began her dance training in Petaluma, CA. After a few too many Nutcrackers she moved to New York to attend The Juilliard School where she performed works by Robert Battle, Margie Gillis, José Limón, and Ohad Naharin. Since graduation in May 2003, Laurel has danced for Dušan Týnek Dance Theatre, Sue Bernhard Danceworks, Pat Catterson, Stephan Koplowitz, and TEA Dance Company. She performed at the Festival Oltre Passo in Lecce, Italy and appeared as a guest artist with Petaluma City Ballet. Laurel first appeared with MMDG in 2006 and became a full company member in 2007.
Bradon McDonald
received his B.F.A. from The Juilliard School in 1997. He danced with the Limón Dance Company for three years and was the recipient of the 1998 Princess Grace Award. He has choreographed and presented his own works internationally, served as choreographer for seven Juilliard Opera Company productions under director Frank Corsaro, and was the choreographic assistant to Donald McKayle at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Bradon joined the Mark Morris Dance Group in 2000.
Dallas McMurray
from El Cerrito, CA, began dancing at age 4, studying jazz, tap, and acrobatics with Katie Maltsberger, and ballet with Yukiko Sakakura. He received a B.F.A. in dance from the California Institute of the Arts. Dallas performed with the Limón Dance Company in addition to works by Jiri Kylian, Alonzo King, Robert Moses, and Colin Connor. Dallas joined MMDG performed with MMDG as an apprentice in 2006 and became a company member in 2007.
Maile Okamura
is originally from San Diego, California. She was a member of Boston Ballet II in 1992-93 and Ballet Arizona in 1993-96. She has danced with choreographers Neta Pulvermacher, Zvi Gotheiner, and Gerald Casel, among others. Maile began working with the Mark Morris Dance Group in 1998 and became a company member in 2001.
June Omura
was born in New York, grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and graduated from Barnard College with honors in Dance and English. She first studied with Mark Morris in 1986, joined MMDG in1988. In 2005, she received a New York Dance and Performance Award ("Bessie") for her career with the company. June and her husband are the proud parents of twin girls, born in 2003, and a new baby boy, born in September 2006. She is grateful to her family, Mark Morris, and MMDG for their love and support.
Noah Vinson
received his B.A. in dance from Columbia College Chicago, where he worked with Shirley Mordine, Jan Erkert, and Brian Jeffrey. In New York, he has danced with Teri and Oliver Steele and the Kevin Wynn Collection. He began working with the Mark Morris Dance Group in 2002 and became a company member in 2004.
Jenn Weddel
grew up in Longmont, Colorado and received her early training from Boulder Ballet Company. She holds a B.F.A. from Southern Methodist University and also studied at The Boston Conservatory, Colorado University and the Laban Center, London. Since moving to New York in 2001, Jenn has performed with RedWall Dance Theatre, Sue Bernhard Danceworks, Vencl Dance Trio, Rocha Dance Theatre and with various choreographers including Alan Danielson and Connie Procopio. She has presented her own work in Manhattan and continues to collaborate with TEA Dance Company under the direction of Ella Ben-Aharon and Sahar Javedani. Jenn joined the Mark Morris Dance Group as an apprentice in 2006.
Julie Worden
graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts and joined the Mark Morris Dance Group in 1994.
Michelle Yard
was born in Brooklyn, New York, and began her professional dance training at the New York City High School of the Performing Arts. Upon graduation she received the Helen Tamiris and Brith awards. For three years she was a scholarship student at the Alvin Ailey Dance Center, and attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Michelle joined the Mark Morris Dance Group in 1997. Mom, thank you.